Facade work progressing

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By Luke Smucker

Pontiac Daily Leader - Pontiac, IL

By Luke Smucker

Posted Sep. 19, 2013 at 1:08 PM

By Luke Smucker

Posted Sep. 19, 2013 at 1:08 PM

Pontiac, Ill.

Most of the improvement work has been completed at 113, 115 and 117 W. Madison St., the buildings housing B & B Coins and Jewelry owned by Bill Burbridge, Pfaff's Herbal Health owned by Michael Rodino and Lilli's owned by Dick Collins.

David Lopeman, Pontiac building and zoning officer, said the owners requested facade grants from the city of Pontiac on July 1, specified not to exceed a cost to the city of more than $25,548.19, to improve the exterior of the buildings and make them fit into the downtown motif. The city approved the grants, which cover half the costs of improvement work.

P.R.O.U.D. Executive Director Lori Fairfield said the plan is to have the building work completed before the Illinois Main Streets State Conference is held in Pontiac from Oct. 1 through 3.

At this point, Lopeman and Fairfield confirmed building brick and window work has been completed and painting is almost finished. The next step is looking into improving decorative glasswork above the showroom windows.

“Frank Lloyd Wright-patterned glass was on the front of the Pfaff’s section and that has been pulled off and a lady in Bloomington is restoring it,” said Fairfield. “We’re also looking to see if there is similar glasswork behind the signage of Lilli's.”

While all this work is being done, Lopeman also noted that a sidewalk project is taking place that will essentially fill the unfilled spaces below the sidewalk.

“The sidewalk project has just started, so that is going to be an ongoing effort there on Madison Street,” said Lopeman.

Meanwhile, Union Roofing Company in Chenoa has been working since around Sept. 9 to replace the roof above The Jeweler's Bench, 201 W. Madison St., a job company vice president Doug Hoselton says was nearing completion. The sidewalk on Mill Street was blocked off recently due to the fact the roofing crew had to bring trucks on the sidewalk for roof removal.

“There are a bunch of power lines surrounding the building, that’s the only way to get a truck close to the roof,” said Hoselton.

He said the roof was damaged in a windstorm earlier this year. “We initially went up there and temporarily fixed the roof until they could get the insurance companies involved to look at it because the wind caused a lot of damage,” said Hoselton.

Chris Brock, street superintendent, said the roofing crew usually worked in the mornings and was finished around noon each day to cause the least amount of inconvenience to downtown shoppers and employees.